Muffler



W. HAYES May 27, 1924.

MUFFLER Filed Aug. 30, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l /a'l (pam, ,Hyf/S.

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May 27 1924. v L49590 W. HAYES MUFFLER Filed Aug. SO, 19520 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2f 2z z/ Zz Mlam My/eo.

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Patented May 27, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM HAYES, 0F rBIIPIB'ESA, CALIFORNIA.

MUFFLER.

`Application led August 30, 1920. Serial No. 406,829.

T o all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM HAYES, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Represa, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mullers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in muiilers for propelling-engines of the internal-combustion type, such as are suitable for aeroplanes, automobiles, and other vehicles operated at, high speed and where it is desired that the exhaust be ballied or muflled to reduce or eliminate as far as possible the noise in the engine-cylinders.

A leading object of the present invention is the construction of a` simple apparatus for positively muiiling the engine ex losions, and to eliminate all back-pressure o the exhaust, and to drain all exhaust gases from both the exhaust pipe and the cylinders, and at the same time render the operation of a gasoline propelled vehicle substantially noiseless. n

With the above and other objects in view my invention consists of the parts, and the constructions andl arrangements of parts which I will hereinafter describe and point out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of Ithis specification and in which simivlar reference characters indicate like parts in the several views;

Fig. 1 `is a side elevation of a muiller embodylng my invention and showing the same attached to an aeroplane, the latter being shown by dotted lines. 'i

Fig. 2 is a part side and part sectional view of the muiller detached and shown on an enlarged scale.

Figs. 3, 4 5 and 6, are enlarged details of construction to be hereinafter referred to.

In carrying out my invention, it is my purpose to construct a muiller which ma be readily applied to an aeroplane, automo ile,

motor-cycle, railroad passenger car and in fact any vehicle which is propelled by the explosion `of an internal combustion engine where the vehicle is propelled at high speed, and where it is desired to eliminate the backpressure of the exhaustwhile at the same time to reduce orto entirely eliminate the noise incident to the cylinder explosions.

For the present purpose, I have shown the muiller, A, attached to a conventional form of aeroplane B, since said muilier is -especially useful in connection with machines of this character. The muffler, in the instance noted, is suitably supported on the fuselage of the machine and said muffler is of tubular form and may have such longitudinal and transverse dimensions as will be considered desirable or necessary for the particular machine with which it is to be associated. The front portion of the muiler is made substantially funnel-shaped and its outer orl intake end-is of substantially a lsegmental or crescent form in cross-section,

the said funnel portion of the muffler extending rearwardly and fitting. the front or inlet end of a fan casing or housing, C, which housing is of cylindrical form and has the front and rear tubular extensions, 2, 3, respectively to the former of which the smaller or rear end of the conical front of the muiller-is fitted and secured; to the rear extension, 3, of the fan casing the tail or rear portion of the muilier is fitted and supplied with baies, dampers and other agencies, which I will hereinafter mention.

Within the fan casing rotates the fan, D, which may be of any approved construction. Preferably' this fan is mounted upon ball or roller-bearings, 4, so as to make its operation more sensitive and to reduce friction to the minimum amount, the upper portion of said fan having its blades extending into the passage through which the air taken into the mufiler through the conical intake will impinge and thus give rotation to saidifan.

The fan casing is, preferably, made of similar parts or sections, 5, 6 (Fig. 5) with abutting flanges by which they may be se-j cured together either by brazing or by the use of bolts or other fastenings. The shaft, `7, upon whichthe fan casing is mounted is hollow and has threaded portions, 8, for the engagement of lock-washers,9, which serve to secureY inside and outside ball races, l0 10', in proper relation to each other so as to confine the intermediate series of balls, l1, the end portions of said shaft being turned down to form journals which extend through a U-shaped hanger-frame, l2, against which'the ball-races are appropriately held-by the lock-washers, said frame being recessed on the inner faces of its side members so as to receive the corresponding portions of the outside ball races. Provision nis also made for .the proper lubrication of 12, as fitted to the hanger-frame and adapted to deliver lubricant to the journal-ends offthe shaft.

Connecting with the conical front or airintake portion of the muler casing at a 4suitable point in rear of the inletthereof,

1s a pipe or conductor, 13, which leads rearwardly to the fan casing and has its inner end provided with a right-angled portion the muffler casing is fitted a screen, l15, which substantially may be secured theretoy by bolts, nuts or by any other method. g l

Communicating with the fan casing and referably with. the upper end of the same 1s the exhaust pipe, 16, which leads from the engine cylinders 'and through which thespent gases are exhausted by suction in'- duced by the rotating fan, l). said fan delivering these gases into the ,rear or tail portion of the muiiler casing and which portion I prefer to make of'two similar sections with flanges by which they can be secured together, each of said sections being provided with perforated balie plates, 17, arranged in staggered relation so as to form a' broken or tortuous course through this portion of the mulller. To further retard vthe flow of the` exhaust gases through the rear of the muiilerI also provide in advance of certain of thev bale plates, suitable delectors 18, which'm'ay be in the form of angle plates appropriately fixed and extending transversely across the exhaust gas passage, as shown'in Fig.3. A simple and desirable way of securing these parts will be by brazing, welding or otherwise fastening the flanged sections of the muflier casing and brazing or otherwise securing the deflectors to the sections or other wise in their proper position. The fan casing being made of similar sections with abutting flanges may also have the latter united known means.

The rear or tail'portion of the muffler cas' y ing is continued beyond the perforated battle plates, 17, andin this rearward part I locate suitable .swinging dampers, 19,' which are adapted `toopen and close the passage through the tail lportion of the muer. These dampers are provided with journal pins,1 20, orare otherwise pivotally mounted and from the axis'of each of the dampers extends a rocker arm, 21, provided with by brazing, welding or by other well' a wrist pin, 22, adapted to an opening in a reciprocating bar or' lever, 23, which eq;- tends longitudinally along the outside of the muiller casing and in practice is designed to be connected through appropriate hand. or foot lever mechanism (not shown) Within the control of the operator of the machine, so that upon actuating the said mechanism, the rod or lever, 23, is moved in the direction of its length thereby causing the rocker arms, 21, to turn about their pivotal centersY and the dampers to open or close as condiy tionsrequire, thereby controlling the iow of the exhaust gases and the discharge ofthe same through the outlet of the muilier 30 casing. The longitudinally movable lever, or rod is provided with a spring, 24, and it operates in suitable guides or bearings, 25, and which spring is confined between said bearings and is designed to return the parts, including the dampers, to -their normal closed position'when the connections with the rod are released by the operator. In Fig. 4, I show the journals or pins of the damper-plates a's-projecting from both sides of the muilier casing so that, if desired, the casing may be provided on either or both sides with one of the reciproca-ting damperoperating rods and coacting parts, heretofore described. The extreme end of the muiller casing is protected by a wire screen, 26, bolted or otherwise secured in place in much'the same manner that the screen'over the front or intake end of the casing is secured.

In addition to the foregoing l may use a cut-out valve; 27, in the exhaust pipe, 16, leading from the cylinders to the fan cas,- ing, and I may also use a cut-out valve, 28, in the air conductor, 13, which leads from 105 the front portion of the muilier to the hol-r low shaft upon which the fan is mounted, the latter valve being, preferably, of the plunger or gate-type, but other forms of valves may be used 1f desired. Springs may 'no be used in connection with these cut-out valves as well as on the dampe-r actuating rod, said springs having suflicient strength to normally hold both dampers and cut-out valves in closed position; the dampers are designed to open when the machine is standing still, to eliminate back-pressure and the cut-out valves are intended to be closed when the machine is flying at high altitudes.

The. muier heretofore described is designed to be held to the fuselage by any appropriate means as iron bands, 29, or the like, so as to hold thc parts -in rigid relation to the machine. 'While I have shown the muier and its rear extension as being submg stantially longitudinally in line, it will be apparent that these parts maybe otherwise relatively arranged, accordingly their psition may be modified Without materially n altering the character of my invention. no@

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that my improved muiiier will eliminate the objectionable back-pressure on the exhaust, which is present in many other muller constructions and thereforeV the engine explosions will be substantially noiseless. As a result of these conditions, milelage will be increased and the tendency to the muiler and fan casing may be secured to` the fuselage of the aeroplane, or tothe body of a vehicle; a series of perforated baffle plates; a series of movable dampers controlled by the operator; and the overhead exhaust pipe so situated relatively to the fan casing that the fan breaks up the gas formation for its passage to the tail portion of the muiher, and the engine exhaust is drained while the exhaust -valves are open on which is known as the minus lap on the engine valves; this insures drainage of exhaust gases from the engine cylinders as well as from the exhaust pipe leading to the fan casing.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A muiller for internal combustion enjgines of high speed vehicles comprising a casing open at the front and. rear for 4the passage of an air current; a fan enclosed by said casing having a portion intercepting the air current whereby said fan is rotated; and an. exhaust conductor having one end connecting with the casing adjacent the fan whereby an induced suction is created in the conductor and the drainage of spent gases is elected.

'2. A vmuiiler for internal combustion engines of high speed vehicles having a casing with a passage extending through it and open at the front for the free admission of the atmosphere; a fan enclosed by said casing having a part extending into said passage and subjected to the impingement of the air-current passing therethrough whereby said fan is rotated; and an exhaust pipel having one end connecting with the casing in proximity to the fan whereby the latter induces a suction in the same of exhaust gases.

3. A muffler for internal combustion en pipe to drain they gines of high speed vehicles having a casing with a passage extending through it and open at the front for the free admission of the atmosphere; a fan enclosed by said casing having a part extending into said pas` sage and subjected to the -impingement of the air-current'passing therethrough whereby said fan is rotated; and an exhaust pipe having one end connecting with the casing' in proximity to the fan whereby the latter induces a suction in the pipe to drain the same of exhaust gases, 'said fan being mounted inan intermediate portion of the casing andadapted to break up and deliver the exhaust gases into the rear portion of the casing. v

4. A muffler for internal combustion engines of high speed vehicles having a casing with a passage extending through it and open-at the front for the free admission of the atmosphere; a fan enclosed by said casing having a part extending into said passage and subjected to the impingement ot the air-current passing therethrough whereby said fan is rotated; an exhaust pipe having one end connecting with the casing in proximity to the fan whereby the latter induces a suction in the pipe to drain the same of exhaust gases, said fan being mounted in an intermediate portion of the casing and adapted to break up and deliver the exhaust gases into the rear portion of the casing, and ballles in said rear portion of the mufer casing in the path of said gases.

5. A `muliler, for internal combustion en-l gines of high speed vehicles having a casing with a passage extending through it and open at the front for the free admission of the atmosphere; a fan enclosed by said casing having a part extending into said passage and subjected to the impingement of the air-current passing therethrough whereby saidv fan is rotated; an exhaust pipe having one end connecting with the casing in proximity to the fan whereby the latter induces a suction in the pipe to drain the same of exhaust gases, said fan being mounted in an intermediate portion of the casing and adapted to break up and deliver the exhaust gases into the Tear of the casing; a series of connected dampers in the r'ear'portion of the casing; and means for actuating the dampers.

6. A mulller for internal combustion engines of high speed vehicles having a casing' same of exhaust gases, said fan being mounted in an intermediate portion of the casing and adapted to break up and deliver the exhaust gases into the rear portion of the casing, a series ofidampers in the rear portion of the casing adapted to open' and close the passage therethrough, and an actuating member 4connected with the dampers. L A

7. A muliier for internal combustion engines of high speed vehicles having a vcasing with a passage extending through itand open at. the front for the free admission of the atmosphere; a fan enclosed bysaid casing having a part extending into said passage and subjected to the impingement of the air-current passing therethrough wherev'nected with and actuating the dampers to open and close the air passage through the rear of the casing. A

8. Ainulller ,for internal'combustion engines of high speed vehicles having a casing with a passage extending through it and open at the frontfor the free admission of' the atmosphere; afan enclosed by said casing having a part extending into said passage and subjected to the impingement of ing one end connecting with the casing in y the air-current passing therethrough whereby said fan is rotated;ran exhaust pipe havproximity to the fan whereby the latter induces a suction in the pipe to drain the end; and a hollow shaft yfor the fan `saine of exhaust gases, said fan being the exhaust gases into the rear portion of J the casing; a series of perforated bavilies in rear of the fan; a series of swinging dampers in rear of the battles; a reciprocable rod connected with and Vactuating the dampers to open and close the air passagethrough the rear of the casing; and a spring connecting with the rod adapted to normally hold the dampeis inv closed position. 9. A muilier for internal combustion engines of high speed vehicles having a casing open at the front and rear for the passage of an aircurrent; afan in said passage actuated by the impingement of the aircurrent thereagainst; and an exhaust conduct'or inI which a suction is induced by the fan, the port-ion of the casing in front of the fan being of conical form and the inlet end of the casing being Vof iattened, substantially segmental shape in cross-section.

10. A mullier comprising a casing having a passage through it open at the front for the free admission of an air current; a fan enclosed by said casing; a hollow shaft. for vthe fan; a mounting in which the shaft is journaled; anda pipe for conducting a portion ofthe air current from the casing to the interior of said shaft. n 11. A muliler having a-casing open-at both ends to form an air passage; a fan and a housing therefor forming a partof said casing, said fan having a portion extending into the path ofthe air-current; a `pipe connected with the casing back of the inlet end thereof and having an elbow at the inner with which said elbow connects. Y

n testimony whereof I aix my signature.

IAM vns. 

